Combined socket wrench and nut ejector



Patented Sept. 8, i953 OFFICE 1 commsn sooner vwnuucn Ash NUT EJECTORBernhart .loseph Lenz, one-half to. Orville MercedpCaliL, assignor of W.Shelton,

Carmel, Calif.

Application July 31, 1950, Serial No. 176,827

' 3 Claims. (01. 81-1241) This invention is directed to, and it isan'object to provide, an improved socket wrench;

An important object of the invention is to provide a socket wrench whichis operative, after removal of a nut from a bolt and at which timesticks in the socket, to eject latter for ready manual rethe nutfrequently the nut from the covery.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the socket wrenchin a manner such that the torque applied tothe wrench to loosen a .nutcannot work to the detriment of or damage the axially slidable parts,which the device includes, to cause ejection of the-nut from the socket,as aforesaid. 1 I

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by-a perusalof the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the socket wrench.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same in normal position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, in nut ejecting position.

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the wrench.

Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the wrench.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the improved socket wrench comprises a body I in the form of atubular, elongated sleeve; such body being formed atits forward endportion with a socket 2 and at its rear end portion with a bore 3. Thesocket 2 and bore 3 are non-circular in cross section and preferablyhave a hexagonal configuration; there being an annular internal stop 4between said socket 2 and bore 3.

A non-circular, push-out head or plunger 5, likewise preferablyhexagonal in cross section, engages in matching, axially slidablerelation in the socket 2. The inner end of the plunger 5 normallyengages in abutting relation against the stop 4, and at such time theouter end of said plunger is disposed at considerable distance short ofor inwardly from the outer end of said socket 2.

The plunger 5 is formed with a recess 6 which opens to the outer end ofsaid plunger for the reception of the free end of a bolt I when a nut 8on said bolt is engaged in the socket 2.

A reduced-diameter stem 9 is formed integral with, and projects axiallyin a rearward direction from, the plunger 5 and through the annularinternal stop 4 and bore 3.

At its rear end portion the stem 9 projects but shows the wrench thestop 4, as

into the bore I 0 of a connector shank'II; these parts being securedtogether by a cross pin I2.

section, preferably hexagonal, and runs matching fit in the non-circularbore 3.

Diametrally alined holes I3 in the tubular sleeve 1 permit of placementor removal of the cross pin I2, but said holes I3 are in a positionnormally out of alinement with said cross pm; i. e. ahead of the latter.

A compression spring I4 surrounds the stem 9 between the annularinternal stop 4 and the inner end of-the connector shank II; such springthus normally urging the plunger 5, stem 9, and shank I I totheir'rearmost point, andat which time the plunger 5 occupies aretracted position against aforesaid. At the same time the connectorshank -I l projects some the rear end of the tubular sleeve I.

When the above described socket wrench is in II is engaged with a socketwrench with a handle or speed wrench; the engagement being either on thenon-circular outside of said shank or into the bore I 0, depending onthe type of tool handle. The bore I 0 is non-circular in cross section,and preferably square.

With the socket wrench thus handle-mounted for use a nut 8 is engaged inthe socket 2, whereupon the device is rotated in a direction to unthreadthe nut 8 from the bolt 1. When such unthreading occurs the nut 8 wouldquite frequently stick in the socket 2, making its removal difficult andinconvenient were it not for the nut by relative forward thrusting ofthe plunger 5 the tubular sleeve I.

As the tubular sleeve I is pulled rearwardly the plunger 5 thrustsrelatively forward, pushing the nut out of socket 2 for ready manualrecovery.

By virtue of the fact that the plunger 5 and connector shank II areengaged in matching relation in the non-circular socket 2 andnoncircular bore 3, respectively, the torque applied to the connectorfrom strain and possible breakage.

The device, while simple in its structure and capable of facile isnevertheless sturdy, practical, and convenient being a most usefulmechanic's tool.

From the foregoing description it will be readidistance' out "of 1y seenthat there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills theobjects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A socket wrench comprising a tubular sleeve having a non-circularsocket open to the front end thereof, a plunger slidable in matchingrelation in the socket, the forward end of the plunger normally beingshort of the correspond ing end of the socket, a connector at the rearof the sleeve for a socket wrench handle, :said connector being slidablebut non-turnable in the sleeve and projecting from the rear end thereof,a stem of reduced size extending between adjacent; ends of the plungerand connector, a stop in the sleeve against which the rear end of theplunger normally seats, and a helical compression spring about the stembetween the stop and connector yieldably maintaining the plunger againstsaid stop.

- 2. A socket wrench comprising a tubular sleeve having a non-circularsocket open to the front end thereof, and a non-circular bore open tothe rear end, there being an annular stop in the sleeve between thesocket and bore, a plunger slidable in matching non-turnable relation inthe socket, the rear end of the plunger normally seating against thestop and the forward end of said plunger then being short of thecorresponding end of the socket, a wrench handle connector "stoptoadjacent the rear end of adjacent one of slidable in the bore inmatching non-turnable relation and projecting out of the rear end of thelatter, a stem extending between and fixed to the plunger and connectorfor axial motion of said parts as a unit, and a helical compressionspring between the stop and the connector.

3. A socket wrench comprising a tubular sleeve having a non-circularsocket open to the front end thereof, an annular stop in the sleeve atthe inner end of the socket, a plunger shorter than the socket andnon-turnably slidable therein, a stem projecting from the plungerthrough the the sleeve, a wrench-engaging connector-shank slidable inthe rear portion of the sleeve and engaged over the the stem, a crosspin through the shank and stem, a spring about the stem between theshank and stop holding the plunger retractedin the sleeve and a portionof the shank. projecting from the sleeve, but the pin being thenconcealed by the sleeve; the latter having a transverse boretherethrough as large as the pin to aline with said pin when the shankis projected a predetermined distance into the sleeve against theresistance of the spring.

BERNI-LART JOSEPH LENZ,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

